Waldie Lake - Dec 21-24
Avalancheben.s · Dec 23, 2020 · Kootenay Pass
Quick report
- Weather
- sunny, cold
- Ride Type
- denseTrees, openTrees
- Stayed Away
- steepSlopes, convexSlopes, alpineSlopes
- Riding Quality
- good
- Snow Conditions
- powder, deepPowder
- Avalanche Conditions
- avalancheConditionSnow
Skinning into camp on the morning of Dec 21 coincided with scattered flurries and obscured visibility through Pristine Pass. At basecamp (1655m asl) the approaching storm changed to a significant rain event that lasted until about 10pm. Snow, at times heavy, ensued shortly thereafter. Dec 22 we awoke in camp to 20cm fresh heavy powder and scattered flurries that lasted throughout the day accounting for another 5cm of light powder at basecamp. After the storm, trace amounts of new snow accumulated in basecamp. Above 1850m asl, HST = ~40-50cm locally. During our stay, overnight temperatures dipped to approximately -18C while daytime highs approached 0C. Strong wind was associated with the storm but otherwise our trip experienced very little wind effect, however we did not venture into the alpine. On our skin out of camp on Dec 24 strong winds at ridge top were observed. Surface hoar up to 5mm formed during the early hours of Dec 23. It was observed throughout the basin we were skiing in. By Dec 24, SH on solar slopes were laying mostly flat while shaded and polar slopes appear to conserve upright crystals.
Snowpack
- Depth
- 115
- Obs Type
- point
- Site Aspect
- E
- Site Elevation
- 1930
- Ski Penetration
- 30
- Foot Penetration
- 70
- Site Elevation Band
- tln
- Surface Conditions
- newSnow, surfaceHoar
CTM12 RP down 38 on rounding pp below Dec 21 crust CTM19 SC down 98 on rounding facets in mixed early Nov crust interval CTH24 BRK down 54 CTH28 RP down 84 at top of early Nov crust interval ECTN13 BRK down 36 on rounding pp above Dec 21 crust ECTP22 RP down 72 on rounding facets 0.5-1mm (did not slide off column) Given the above results and avalanche forecast we agreed the potential for step-down avalanches to occur were possible. With that in mind we kept our terrain selection very conservative. It was a bummer not to shred the absolutely amazing looking big slopes in this basin but there were too many unknown variables for us. Fitting given that its the time of year to be making decisions based around the love of friends and family. Stay safe out there powder hounds! Merry Christmas!
Avalanche
- Run Length
- 75
- Trigger Type
- natural
- Wind Exposure
- leeSlope
- Avalanche Size
- 1
- Slab Thickness
- 15
- Start Zone Aspect
- N, S
- Start Zone Incline
- 45
- Avalanche Character
- looseDry
- Number Of Avalanches
- 2-5
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2000
- Runout Zone Elevation
- 1900
- Weak Layer Burial Date
- 2020-12-21T08:00:00.000Z
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- alp, tln
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2020-12-23T12:30:00
Skinning into camp on Dec 21 we observed one crown up to 30cm thick and 25m wide at the base of north facing very steep rocky terrain (~1950m asl). The crown was partially buried by sluffing from above, obscuring the identification of other important characteristics. During the late evening of Dec 21 we heard several loud rumblings north of camp. We interpret these avalanches as size +2 loose wet features that came out of steep rocky terrain (~2000m asl). They were buried by the subsequent snow in the wee hours of Dec 22. On the mornings of Dec 23 and 24, with perfect blue bird visibility, we were able to observe the remnants of two size 1-1.5 loose dry avalanches that initiated in steep rocky terrain and stopped mid-track. These occurred overnight and were likely initiated by overnight wind-loading.